This is to benefit the sponsorship of Gavin Rozema, the son of member Robin Rozema, in the Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk 2012. All proceeds will go to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Saint Louis. The winners will receive a paid entry and travel assistance to the National Jack & Jill event in Las Vegas.  For more information visit the League Web Site listed above.

Gary Hatfield Tribute Show Benefiting The Orlando VA Medical Center  will feature performances by Higher Ground – a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band, and Nightrain – a Guns & Roses tribute band.  100% of proceeds will go to The Orlando VA Medical Center.  Tons of prizes will be given away.  Click Here for more information.

“I thought about those two little girls, and how hard it must be on them to be without their daddy,” Way said.  “So I decided I needed to do something.  I called upon the APA community—players, Host Locations, vendors I deal with, as well as local businesses—to help me raise money for this family.”  Way also reached out to the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers for donations.  “I had an overwhelming response from everyone,” Way said.

On March 25 Way conducted a pool tournament to raise money for Amador’s family.  The tournament took place at Wizards Sports Café in Richardson, Texas, and also featured a break-and- run contest, speed break contest, silent auction and raffle.  Wizards donated 10% of their food sales for the day, and even added a little extra.  “All said and done, we raised $3,894 that will be put in a trust fund for the twins,” Way said.  The girls also received a box of new toys from an APA member who is a toy distributer in the Dallas area.

The 8-Ball Singles tournament was broken down into three brackets—SLs 2-3, SLs 4-5 and SLs 6-7.  Andrew Youngman won the SLs 2-3 bracket with John Liles finishing in 2^nd Place.  The SLs 4-5 bracket was won by Henry Castillo, with Phoebe Simon taking 2^nd.  Orietta Strickland took 1^st Place in the SLs 6-7 bracket with TJ Davis coming in 2^nd.

For more information on Northwest Dallas APA visit nwdallas.apaleagues.com.

Skip and Phillip both played on the team “Top Dawg” out of Oscar’s “Q” & Bar in Chapel Hill, NC.  Skip was the captain of the team.  Skip had been a member of the APA since 2003 and Phillip joined in 2008.  They were both loved players in the Tuesday night in-house Double Jeopardy league.  Their team competed in the 2011 APA National Team Championships in 9-Ball this past August.  The loss of these two members of the APA family devastated the community and local APA league.

To remember Skip & Phillip and to show support and offer assistance to the families of both men, the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill APA held a Memorial Tournament in their honor at Oscar’s “Q” & Bar on February 25, 2012.  The fundraiser featured an 8-Ball Scotch Doubles tournament, a break contest, raffles, a silent auction, and a BBQ plate sale.  Named after the team that both men played on, the Top Dawg Memorial Tournament raised $5,536.50 for the families.  The tournament was a success due to outpour of love and hard work of the APA, Oscar’s, Skip & Phillip’s teammates and fellow APA players, friends and family, and the community.

Another fundraiser tournament was held on February 3, 2012 for Johnson’s family to raise money to help pay for the funeral costs, due to lack of insurance coverage.  That tournament was organized by fellow APA players and raised about $2,600.00.

Jeff and Cassie Howell took 1^st Place in the tournament which featured a field of 35 doubles teams.  Jeff Copeland and John “JC” Collins finished 2^nd.

Click Here to see video coverage of the event produced by the NBC affiliate in Raleigh, NC.

For more information about the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill APA, visit apa-raleigh.com.

On Jan. 14, 2012, Pee Dee South Carolina APA League Operators Richard and Regina Johnson did what they could to help Justin by organizing a fundraiser.  Taking place at Stroker’s Billiards in Sumter, S.C., and featuring a double elimination Singles tournament as well as raffles, the benefit raised $473.  A total of $413 went directly to Justin and $60 went to the winner of the tournament, which just so happened to be Justin!  Justin then gave $40 of his winnings to the 2^nd Place finisher, Brian Timmons.

Justin has completed his treatments and will know if the cancer is completely gone when he returns to the doctor next month. “He is in great spirits and has returned to play in the League for the Spring Session,” said Regina.

For more information on the Pee Dee South Carolina APA visit peedeesouthcarolina.apaleagues.com.

Lori Way, Northwest Dallas APA League Operator, donated two Action pool cues for 1^st Place and an assortment of APA merchandise for 3^rd Place; Wizards Sports Cafe donated $50 in gift certificates for the 2^nd Place team.

Jose Dorado Jr. and Juan Contreras took 1^st Place, Richard Dankovcik and Lucy Kimble placed 2^nd, and Kevin and Deanna Bush finished 3^rd.

For more information on Toys for Tots visit toysfortots.org; and for more information on Northwest Dallas APA visit nwdallas.apaleagues.com.

The tournament was a modified single elimination 8-Ball Scotch Doubles competition.  Tony Hollifield and Joe Daly took home the 1^st Place prize.

For more information on Toys for Tots visit toysfortots.org; and for more information on Blue Ridge APA visit blueridgeAPA.com.

“Me being one person can’t do much,” Johnson remembers thinking, “but if we brought the entire League together, we could.”  So she spoke to the owner of Scottie’s Last Chance Saloon in Punta Gorda, Fla., and got permission to hold the benefit tournament for the Owens Family at his location.

The charity event took place on Dec. 10 and featured 20 individuals competing in a double elimination 8-Ball Singles tournament.  Shawn Collie won the tournament, with Albert Baker finishing 2^nd.  Both members donated their winnings back for the family.  The event also featured a barbecue and raffles, including a cue donated by Charlotte County APA League Operator Vito Faieta.  At the end of the day $377 was presented to James and his family.

“It was so good to see so many people come together at this time of year to help one family,” Johnson remarked.

For more information on Charlotte County APA visit charlottecounty.apaleagues.com.

There was also a 3-ball contest, 9-Ball break contest, in-house poker run, 50/50 drawing and basket of booze which contained bottles of liquor from 11 local Host Locations.  Paul Malter won a cue as 1^st Place prize in the 3-ball contest. John Stoffel III won a cue as 1^st Place prize in the 9-Ball break contest. Brien Youngblood had the winning hand of four 9’s to win a cue in the in-house poker run. Brien also won $57 on the 50/50 drawing. Marty Kaczmarowski won the basket of booze.

The tournament was sponsored by Midwest Illinois APA and was held in memory of Bob Hinkle Jr. Bob became an APA member in 1993 and was a skill level 6 when he was diagnosed with ALS in October 2006. He passed away at age 50 in November 2007.

Many thanks to all who helped with the tournament and contests: Judy Hinkle, Alex Hinkle, Dale Miller, Brien Youngblood, Shelli Eichelberger, Bob Nier, Buffy McKinney and Jim McKinney.

Thanks to The Break for providing the pool room and tables at no cost for the day. Also thanks to all locations who donated items for the booze basket: Carol’s Bridge Inn, Doit’s Village Inn, Fairview Inn, Humdinger’s, Ken’s Lounge, Laurie’s Place, Old Town Tavern, Shooterz, Shorty’s Pub, Time Out and The Break Billiards.

Other donators were Gary Newingham and Rixstine Recognition.

All proceeds—a total of $1,046—were sent to the ALS Association, St. Louis Regional Chapter, which helps all families in the Missouri and Illinois Metro East areas who are dealing with ALS in their lives.

Please visit alsa.org for more information about the ALS Association; for additional information about the Midwest Illimois APA visit midwestil.apaleagues.com.

For more information on Toys for Tots visit toysfortots.org.